Gloria

General Information

Gloria in excelsis is the second item of the Ordinary of the Mass, immediately following the acclamations Kyrie eleison at the beginning of Mass. It is also referred to as the "Angelic Hymn", the Greater (major) Doxology (to distinguish it from the lesser or minor doxology Gloria Patri) or Et in terra pax, the words following the priest's solo intonation ("Gloria…" is repeated by the choir in numerous settings).

Composed on the model of the Psalms, its authorship is unknown, though it obviously takes as a point of departure the salutation of the angels at St Luke 2:14. By the 4th century the Greek original was being used at morning prayer; in the west it is sung at Mass on Sundays (except during Advent and Lent) and on certain feasts.

In Anglican usage, the Gloria appears in the usual place in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, after which it was moved to the end of the Communion Service until the liturgical reforms of the mid-twentieth century. The scores of Masses by English composers often follow this arrangement.

Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
(Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.)This line is repeated in the 1552/1662 Book of Common Prayer text.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord;
thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
art most high in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

English translation

(modern language in post-Vatican II vernacular)

Glory to God in the highest,
and, peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.